Body suspension for vehicles of all kinds



Oct. 22, 1 0- J. KOLBE BODY SUSPENSION FOR VEHICLES 01* ALL Kmns Original Filed April 7, 1933 v 2 Sheets-Sheet l v [N VE N TOR BY J'aa'iz'zrg filig.

. 9 C; e w

ATTSRNEYQ OCL 22, 1940. J. KQLBE R8. 21,605

BODY SUSPENSION FORYEHICLES OF ALL KINDS Original Filed April 7, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 754651172 )6.

' AT ORNE s.

Reissued Oct. 22,1940

Re. ll 05 Joachim xoni pea-en, Mich.

Original No 2,078,186, dated April 13, 1937, Serial No. 864.909, April I, 1933. Application for reissue February 21, 1939, Serial Ho. 257,702. In

Germany April 7, 1932 :2 Claims. (cl; zoo-112) This invention relates to a device for tilting the body of vehicles of all kinds, especially of motor vehicles going around curves. In modern vehicles, wherein there is provided a more or less rigid connection between the body and the wheel supporting means, the occupants of the vehicle are forced towards one side of the vehicle because of the centrifugal force'developed as the vehicle rounds the curve.

The spring arrangements-used on modern vehicles operate in such a manner that the body is pressed relative to the wheel supporting means by' centrifugal force towards the outside of the curve, whereas to secure maximum comfort for the passengers of the vehicle, the opposite should actually be the case.

According to my invention and to overcome this disadvantage, links are provided as a connection between the body and the wheel supporting means. These movable transversely to the direction of travel of the'vehicle, and are hingedly connected directly orindirectly with the body at one end, and with the wheel supporting means, which may take the form of an underirame or merely to the axle assembly, at the j other end. The links-are arranged in such a manner that the distance between the Joints which connect them with the .body .is shorter than the distance the joints which connect them with'the wheel supporting means.

Whenavehieleequippedwithlinksoi'this type goes around acurve, the centrifugal force acting on the vehicle urges the vehicle toward the outside of the curve, and the link arrangement automatieally inclines the body relative to the supporting means, the links on the inside of the curve swinging downward to lower the body on that side, and the links on the outside of the curve swingingupwardtoelevate thebodyonthat side.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying dr aw ings in which: 5 Fig. 1 is alias-diagram illustrating one desirable arrangement; Pig. 2 is a front elevational view of a vehicle embodying the linkage illustrated in'the line diagramofl ig.l;and so Fig. 3 is a plan view of a vehicle embodying the invention.

' In the exampleillustrated, the links are articulated or pivoted on each side of the front and rear wheel supporting means or axles I. The

links, in the example illustrated, are subdivided into two sections 3, l2 and I. II, respectively, the ends or the sections it and II being hingedly connected at It and it to the body of the vehicle indicated at It. The sections I and 5 of-thelinks are hingedly connected at one end at 'l' and 5 0, respectively, to the wheel supporting means or axle assemblies I and may be hingedly connected at Inland II to the sections l2 and it, respectively, which, as pointed out above, are hingedly connected to the body ll of the vehicle. 1 The links interconnecting the body and the wheel supporting means or axles are, as illustrated, hingedly connected in such a manner that the axis 0! the pivotal connection lies in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. Ifv the vehicle is subjected to a centrifugal force in the direction indicated by the arrow on Fig. l as when the vehicle goes around a curve, the links 8, 5, II and II of both the front and rear wheel supporting means will be moved toward the dotted line positim, the links 3 and II on the inside of the curve'swinging downwardly to lower the body is on that side, and the links I and it on the outside of the curve swinging upwardly to elevate thebodyllonthat'side. -v u ,'The distances between the points of connection (ll-ll) of the l2 and I! of the links with the body it, and the distance between thebase (I-l) of the sections 3 and 5 of the 1 levers remains constantregardless of whether the body is in the normal or upright position or is moved to an inclined or banked position.

Guide rods which may be constructed in various manners may be provided to ensure the mutual dependency of movement of the two sections of the levers I and I2. and I and II. respectively. These guide rods may take the form of links 2 and 4 pivotally mounted to the wheel supporting means at t and 8, respectively, and

being prevented irom moving outwardly beyond a predetermined point by stops ti and II, respectively. These links I and I have pivotally mounted thereto at 21 and I8. rocker levers II and II, respectively. The free endsof the rocker levers areresiliently connected to the wheel supporting means lby the tension springs 29 and. It, respectively. The upper ends of the rocker levers I3 and it are hingedly connected at i! and II to elbow levers II and 2!, respectively. The so other end of the elbow levers II and it are hingedly, connected at the intersection of the. sections I and I2, and i and it of the levers referred to above which interconnect the body and the wheel supporting means; g I.

'10 andthebodywillbereturnedtothenormal'on n ishtposition by the force of gravity when the 15 gravity of the body'will descend ordrop during benecessaryinlieuthereof.

' n idea of the invention is that theconstructionmaybekcptlowbecausethe gravity of the body may be-situated of above the points of suspension lI-il on Fig. l.

Thedesiredincliningorbankingof thebody under the'action of lateral forcesdeveloped as V when the vehicle rounds a curve or otherwise. is

stopped by application of the brakes or other- .mhuleorguidingelementsmaybeem-.

so played. 'Iheguidingelementsmaytaketherorm' 1 oftelementsllandllpivotallyconnectedatone endtothebodyllthroughthememberslland II, respectively, at II and II, and connected at urges thereby lifting the oenterof gravity asthe forceof the springs overcomes-the force inducing the.

n bodytomovetoanlnclinedorbanhedpoliflon,

s1,cos

The device operates in the following manner. The body I is at all times resiliently supported bythe springs lid and llainterposed between the body and the wheel supporting means. When the vehicle negotiates a curve the body swings 6 outwardly away from the center of the curve about the pivoted 'or hinge connections positioned between the body and the wheel supporting means under the influence of centrifugal force. for example, in the direction indicated by 10 the'arrow on Fig. 1. The links guide the outward movement of the body and quite naturally guide the body into an inclined or banked position. In the embodiment illustrated on Fig. 2, the stop member "prevents the link l from'swinsing out- 15 wardly about the point I. 'lhe rocker levers 20 pivot about the points 28, thereby tensionlng the springs ll. The links I can; however. swing outwardly carrying with them the elbow levers. "which arehing'edly connectedtotherocker levers I by the pivot pins It. The outward movement of the rocker levers II is llmited'by" the radius of the are described by the pivot pins 20 about the pivot pins 28. The inner ends of the levers :2 will, therefore, befforced to we 'illiv 'and' through the members II will lift the sided thebodytowhichtheyareconnectcd. 'lJielinh I connected to the other side of the body. inthls instance. the side of the body on'the inner side of the curve, swing inward and carry with them 30 the elbow levers l8 and the lovers 2i pivoting through their connections with the members II about their points of connection with the'body.

The inner side of the body, therefore, swings downwardly. and the body is inclined'tcward the lnnersideofthecurvebsincethelink'slcarry the rocker levers 23 connected to the elbow levers II by the pivot plns 2|; the rocker levers 28 and the links 2 also swing inwardly, the levers a pivoting about the pins II but remaininglnm alignment with th'elinks I as their pivot pins 2'! swinginwardly. Asaresultof thismotionthe 'Whenthecumhasbeennegotiatedandthc centrifugal force isfremoved. .the body II will springs II which yieldlngly urge the rocker levers II back into alignment with the links I, thereby ezertingaforceontheouterendsofthelcversfl Q through the elbow levers. In the embodiment curve because the angle of inclination of the bod is dependent on the centrifugal force developed which in turn is dependent on the radius of the curve and the speed at which the curve is negm tiated. This construction presents the further advantage that when travelling over a surface inclined transversely to the direction of travel, as on a cambered road surface, the body will always be suspended in a generally horizontal position.

I claim:

I 1. A device for inclining the body of vehicles of all kinds especially motor vehicles, when negotiating curves, comprising in combination with the body and the wheel supporting means of the vehicle, two pairs'of link systems, each link system comprising at least one bar, one of said pairs of link systems arranged at the rear end and the other at the front end of the vehicle with a wheel supporting means, the link systems of. each pair pivotally connected a constant distance apart at their lower ends to the wheel supporting means and at their upper ends to said body at points closer together than the connecting points of the lower ends of said link systems, and springs adapted to normally maintain thecar body in horizontal position, the axes of the pivotal connections between said links and said body and also between said links and said wheel supporting means lying in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle so that said link systems oscillate only in the transverse direction of the vehicle against the action of said springs on the body and resilient means interposed between the body and wheels to absorb vertical impulses to which the wheels are subjected.

wheel supporting means consists of axles and "each link system includes two hingedly interconnected bars and meansconnected with each of said link systems and with the axles for guiding and restricting the movements of said link systems.

3. A device as specified in claim 1, in which the each link system includes two hingedly interconnected bars, and pairs of hingedly interconnected rods, each pair of rods being hingedly connected at one end to one of said axles and at its other end to one of said link systems and adapted to guide and restrict the movement of said link systems.

4. A device as specified inclaim 1, in which each link system includes a substantially vertical bar and a substantially horizontal bar, said horizontal barconsisting of blade springs.

each link system includes a substantially vertical .bar and a substantially horizontal bar, said horizontal bar consisting of blade springs, and means hingedly connected on the one hand with the body and on the other hand with the link system for preventing the edging of said springs.

6. In a motor vehiclehaving front and rear axle assemblies, connecting means between the front and rear axle assemblies, a body, connecting means comprising links interposed between the longitudinally of the vehicle at their upper ends a, constant distance apart to the body and hingedly connected longitudinally of the vehicle at their lower ends a constant distance apart atthe frbntihdrearbeing spaced closer together link system of each pair adjacent an end of the 2. A device as specified in claim 1, in which thewheel supporting means consists of axles and i 5. A device as specified in claim 1, in which body and axle assemblies and hingedly connected to the axle assemblies; the connections to the body than the connections to the axle assemblies whereby the body will assume an inclined or banked position under the influence of centrifugal forces developed as the vehicle rounds a curve, and resilient means associated with the axle assemblies to cushion vertical influences transmitted to the axle assemblies.

7. In a motor vehicle having front and rear I axle assemblies, connecting means between the front and rear axle assemblies, a body, connecting means comprisinglinks hingedly connected longitudinally of the vehicle at their upper ends a constant distance apart to the body andhingedly connected longitudinally of the vehicle at their lower ends a constant distance apart tothe axle assemblies,- the connections at the body being spaced closer together than at the axle assemblieswhereby the body will assume an inclined or banked position accompanied by a lowering of the body relative to the axle assemblies ,when' subjected to centrifugal forces developed as the vehicle rounds a curve, resilient means to progressively return the body to its normal position relative to the axle assemblies as the centrifugal force is reduced, and resilient means associated with the axle assemblies to absorb vertical shocks.

8. In a motor vehicle having front and rear axle assemblies, a body, connecting means comprising front and rear links interposed between the body and axle assemblies and hingedly connected longitudinally. of the vehicle at their up-' per ends to the body and hingedly connected longitudinally of the vehicle at their lower ends to the axle assemblies, the connections to. the

body at the front and rear being spaced closer together than the connections at the front and rear to the axle assemblies and each remaining a constant distance apart whereby the body will assume an inclined or banked position when subjected to centrifugal forces developed as the vehicle rounds a' curve, and resilient means interposed between the body and axle assemblies to absorb vertical shock transmitted to the axle as-' smblies.

9. In a motor vehicle having front and rear road engaging wheels, means to support the wheels, connecting means between the front and rear wheel supporting means,'a body, connecting means comprising links pivotally connected at their upper ends to the body and at their lower ends to wheel supporting means to move only transversely of the vehicle, the transverse dis-.

tance between the lower connections remaining substantially constant and being greater than the transverse distance between the upper connec tions which remains substantially constant whereby the body will assume an inclined position relative to the wheel supporting means accompanied by a raising of the side of the body on the outside of the curve when the vehicle is subjected to centrifugal forces, and resilient means between the body and wheels to absorb verti al impulses.

10. In a motor vehicle having front and rear road engaging wheels, means to support the wheels, connecting means between the front and rear wheel supporting means, a body, curve compensating connecting means comprising linkws pivotally connected at their upper ends to the body and at their lower ends to wheel supporting means to move only transversely of the vehicle,

, the transverse distance between the lower connections being greater than. the transverse distance between the upper connections whereby the 4 7 body will assume an inclined position relative to the wheel supporting means whereby the side of the body on the inside of the curve is lowered whenthe vehicle is subjected to centrifugal forces, resilient means urging the body towards the normal position relative to the wheel supporting means. and resilient means between the body and upper connections whereby the body will assume an inclined position relative to the wheel supporting means when the vehicle is subjected to centrifugal forces, resilient means urging the body towards the normal position relative to the wheel supporting means, and resilient means interposed between the body and wheels to absorb vertical shock to which the wheels are subjected.

12. A vehicle comprising front and rear road engaging wheels, wheel supporting means, a body, link means interposed between the'wheel supporting means and body at the front and rear of the vehicle and having longitudinally extending hinge connections, the connections to the body being spaced closer together than the conv nections to the wheel'supporting means whereby the center of gravity of the body will lie within an imaginary triangle formed by lines extended through the hinge connecting points on the wheel supporting means and body and whereby the body will assume an inclined position relative to the wheel supporting means when subjected to lateral forces developed as the vehicle rounds a curve, and resilient means interposed between the body and wheels to' absorb certain vertical 13. A vehicle comprising front and rear road engaging wheels, wheel supporting means, a body,

link means interposed between the wheel supporting means and-body at the front and rear of the vehicle and having longitudinally extending hinge connections. the connections to the a body being spaced closer together than the connections to the wheel supporting means and said connections remaining a constant distance apart whereby the body will assume, an inclined position relative to the wheel supporting means when subjected to lateral forces developed as the vehicleroundsacurveresilientmeansasociated withthelinkstoprogressivelyurgethebodytoward its normal podtion relative to the wheel supporting means as the lateral force is reduced andresilientmeansbetweent'hebodyand wheels to absorb vertical shocks.

14. A vehicle comprising front and rear road engaging wheels. wheel interconnecting means associated withthewheels,abody.linkmeans interposed between the wheel interconnecting meansandbodyatthefrontandrearofthe vehicle and having longitpdinallyextending hinge connections, the to the body being spaced closer together than theconnections to the wheel interconnecting means whereby the body will assume an inclined position relative to the wheel interconnecting means when subjected to lateral forces developed as the vehicle rounds a curve, resilient means'associated with the links vpivotally connected at their upper ends to the to progressively urge the body toward its normal position relative to the wheel interconnecting means as the lateral force is reduced, and resilient means interposed between the, body and wheels to absorb vertical shockto which the wheels are subjected.

15. In a vehicle having front'and rear road engaging wheels, front and rear wheel supporting means, connecting means between the front and rear wheel supporting means, a body having a normal substantially upright position, paired angularly disposed links pivotally interconnecting the body with the front and rear'wheel supporting means, the upper ends of the links being closer together than the lower ends and the axis of the pivotal connections between the links and the body and between the links and the front and rear wheel supporting means lying in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and remaining a cmistant distance apart whereby the body may assume an inclinedpositionrelative to the wheel supporting means when subjected to lateral forces, and resilient means between the body and wheels to absorb vertical shock to which the wheels are subjected.

16. In a vehicle having front and rear road engaging wheels, front and rear wheel supporting means, connecting means between the front and rear wheel supporting means, a body having a normal substantially upright position, paired angularly disposed links pivotally interconnecting the body with the front and rear wheel supporting means, the upper ends of the links being closer together than the lower ends and the axis of the pivotal connections between the links and the body and between the links and the front and rear wheel supporting means remaining a substantially constant distance apart and lying in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle whereby the body may assume an inclined position relative to the wheel supporting means accompanied by a lowering of the center of gravity of the body relative to the wheel supporting means when subjected to lateral forces, resilient means urging the bodytoward the normal position, and resilient means between the body and wheels to absorb vertical shocks.

17. In a vehicle having front and rear road engaging wheels, front and rear w supporting means, connecting means betw the front and rear wheel supporting a body having a normal substantially upright position, paired angularly disposed links pivotally interconnecting the body with the front and rear wheel supporting means, the upper ends of thelinks being closer togetherthanthelowerendsandtheaxisofthe pivotalconnectionsbetweenthelinksandthe bodyandbetweenthelinksandthefrontandrear wheel supporting means lying in the longitudinal directionofthevehiclewherebythebodymay amimeaninclinedpositionrelativetothewheel supporting means accompanied by a lowering of the center of gravityof thebody relative to the .wheel supporting means when subjected to lateral forces, resilient means urging the body toward the normal position, and resilient means interposed between the body and the wheel supporting means to absorb impulses and shocks to which the wheels-are subjected.

18. In a motor vehicle having front and rear road engaging wheels, means to support the wheels, a body, connecting means comprising links body and 'at their lower ends to wheel supporting means to move transversely only of the vehicle.

the transverse distance between the lower" connections remaining constant and being greaterthan the transverse distance between the upper connections whereby the body will assume an inclined position relative to the wheel supporting means when the vehicle is subjected to centrifugal forces, and resilient means between the body and wheels to absorb vertical shocks.

19. A motor vehicle comprising front and rear wheel supporting mechanisms; a body, angularly disposed means pivotaliy connected between the body and wheel supporting mechanism, the axes of the pivotal connections between'said means and the body and between said means and the wheel supporting mechanism remaining a constant distance apart and lying in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle whereby the body may assume an inclined position relative to the wheel supporting mechanism as the vehicle is subjected to lateraliorces, and resilient means associated with the wheel supporting mechanism to absorb vertical shocks to which the wheels are subjected.

20. A motor vehicle comprising-front and rear wheel supporting mechanism, a bbdy, angularly disposed means pivotally connected between the body and wheel supporting mechanism, the upper ends of said means being closer together than the lower ends and the axes of the pivotal connections between said means and the body and between said means and the wheel supporting mechanism remaining a substantially fixed distance apart and lying only in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle whereby the body may assume an inclined position relative to the wheel supporting mechanism as the vehicle is subjected to lateral forces, and resilient means associated with the wheel supporting mechanism to absorb vertical impulses to which the wheels are sub- :lected.

21. In a vehicle having wheel supporting means,

a superstructure. connecting means between the wheel supporting means and superstructure comprising links havlns pivoted connections extending longitudinally of thevehicle and connected to the superstructure a substantially constant transverse distance apart and connected to the wheel supportingmeans a substantially constant transverse distance apart, the transverse distance between the connections of the links to the superstructure being less than the transverse distance between the connections of the links to the wheel supporting means whereby the superstructure may assume an inclined or banked position transversely only relative to the wheel supporting means under the influence of lateral forces developed as the vehicle rounds a curve, and resilient means associated with the wheel supporting means' to absorb vertical shocks;

22. A" vehicle having front and rear wheel supporting means, a superstructure, connecting means comprising motion transmitting means having pivoted connections extending longitudinally of the vehicle and interposed between the-front and rear wheel supporting means and superstructure, the motion transmitting means being connected a substantially constant transverse distance apart to the superstructure and being connected a substantially constant transverse distance apart to the wheel supporting means, the

transverse distance between the connections of the motion transmitting means to the super-- structure being less than the transverse distance between the connections of the motion transmitting means to the wheel supporting means whereby the superstructure may shift transversely only relative to the wheel supporting means underthe influence of lateral forces to vary its angular relation relative to the wheel supporting means to partially compensate the effect of centrifugal force exerted on the superstructure as the vehicle rounds a curve, and resilient means associated with the wheel supporting means to absorb vertical shocks.

JOACHIM KOLBE. 

